Ingridās normal fictional fare was stories of courage and bravery, heroes and noble lords and ladies. Yet at the behest of one of her classmates, sheād tried her hand at reading something a little new, a series of books that had recently surged in popularity. They were mysteries mostly, with the addition of rudimentary investigation, culminating in trials held against formidable legal opponents.
It was not something Ingrid would have picked up of her own free will, preferring instead to read of more heroic exploits, of powerful kings and valiant knights. But once sheād cracked open the cover of the first book, she had been utterly hooked, something about the fast pace of the writing drawing her in and refusing to free her from its hold.
She read through the first book quickly, and had grown utterly dismayed when sheād learned that the monastery library did not have the next few books available, with a waitlist so long for even just book two it could have encompassed the entirety of the Galatea lands.
So she did the next best thing, heading to the closest bookstore in the town below the monastery when she had a day free from classes and training. Whether she bought all of the books in the series was entirely between her and the goddess, but she would be lying if she said sheād only purchased one book.
It was about halfway through the series that Ingrid wondered about the usefulness of such a system. Two opponents battling with their words, trying to prove that their arguments were most valid, were most just. It was a system wholly new to her, and the novelty of the system was no doubt partially responsible for her interest in the series, and for how sheād been swept away in the current of its popularity along with what felt like nearly half the school.
But thinking on the applications of a judicial system such as what was written in the books kept her focused well past finishing her next read. She even found herself daydreaming, practically dozing, her focus nowhere near the assignments she needed to complete for class as she turned over the fictional law system in her mind over and over.
Could it work? It certainly seemed like it could. But if it could work, how could it be applied? And how would one get someone to defend people suspected of crimes? How would one even find someone eloquent enough to make such a case before a crowd?
It was a question that baffled Ingrid, who much preferred her actions to her words. She was not a poor speaker by any means, but it did not always feel natural, not like whens he was sparring, or when she was performing small acts for her friends. That was as simple as breathing, and it did not fail her the way words sometimes did.
Her curiosity plagued her for days, until she remembered that Marianneās adoptive father was renowned as a phenomenal orator. He could speak with ease to so many of even the most frustrating of nobles. And Marianne was clever, and kind, and although she was quiet there was certainly much more lurking beneath the depths of her often grey countenance.
It was then that Ingrid made an impulsive decision, closing her book and setting it to the side as she bolted from her room. She raced down the steps from the dormitory, bolting across the cobbled ground of the monastery towards the stables. There were few places Marianne would be, and the sun was high and the air was warm, which meant that even she would likely be out, no doubt brushing down Dorte and some of the other horses housed in the stables.
Sure enough, perched like a bird on a stepstool next to Dorte, Marianne was murmuring softly, something Ingrid could not quite make out.
āMarianne!ā She shouted to her friend, pushing her way into the stable, breathing in the sharp smell of hay. āMarianne, you know those books that have been popular lately?! The ones by Shane les Parodee?!ā
She was breathless, but she didnāt give her friend a chance to respond. āSo Iāve been thinking at great length over the legal system in the novels, and I was trying to figure out how someone could be eloquent enough to defend cases in such a system. Do you know what Iām talking about?!ā
She was far too excited for her own good, but an idea was already brewing in her mind, beyond just speaking with Marianne on the details. Perhaps she could get some pointers, and then perhaps she could set something up, something that would make it possible to hold a fake trial much like in the books.
Ingrid clapped her hands together, feeling strangely giddy. Maybe she could even rope Marianne into it as well, which would surely create a fantastic opportunity for them to strengthen their shared bonds, so they could become better friends, better allies in the battlefield and in the future of their world. āWhat do you say?ā
